Saturday, November 7, 2015

Book review and #giveaway: The Self-Motivated Kid by Shimi Kang, M.D.



THE SELF-MOTIVATED KID
How to Raise Happy, Healthy Children Who Know What They Want and Go After It (Without Being Told)
by Shimi Kang, M.D.

“With insight, professional expertise and unfailing instinct, Dr. Shimi Kang offers us essential guidance in restoring sanity to 21st Century parenting.”
—Gabor Maté M.D., co-author, Hold On To Your Kids

“If you're looking for effective but practical strategies to calm the chaos in your kids' lives, foster their internal motivation and truly prepare them to function successfully in the adult work - read this book!”
—Amy McCready, Founder of PositiveParentingSolutions.com 
and author of If I Have to Tell You One More Time...

According to Dr. Shimi Kang, a Harvard-trained child psychiatrist and an expert in human motivation, “Generation Y studies tell us that today’s youth value money and status more than any other generation did before them. At the same time, today’s youth are also considered among the least motivated.” 

Why does this generation lack motivation, and can anything be done to prevent future generations from suffering the same fate? In her book THE SELF-MOTIVATED KID: How to Raise Happy, Healthy Children Who Know What They Want and Go After It (Without Being Told) (Tarcher/Penguin Paperback; on sale August 8, 2015 – released in hardcover last year as The Dolphin Way), Dr. Kang claims that it is a combination of over-parenting, disconnection from community, and a lack of free time that saps the internal drive from children. As the mother of three and a child of Indian immigrants (ones who couldn’t afford to send their kids to special summer camps or music lessons), Kang has learned first-hand that raising kids who are driven and successful isn’t a matter of piano lessons, math tutors or money; it’s about helping your children embrace and rely upon the instincts that come naturally to them.

In THE SELF-MOTIVATED KID, Kang shows parents:
•        Why free time isn’t a waste of time
•        The science behind personal motivation, and how parents can use this knowledge to help their kids
•        The different kinds and forms of play, its critical role in human development, and how to incorporate it in daily life 
•        How community helps children become independent and successful
•        Why over-parenting produces anxious, unhappy, (and sometimes drug-addicted) adults

Drawing on the latest neuroscience and behavioral research, Dr. Kang explains why current parenting trends are preventing children from reaching their full potential. Featuring an accessible section with prescriptions to help motivate kids of all ages, THE SELF-MOTIVATED KID will give parents the tools to raise well-adjusted, resilient, and self-sufficient kids.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shimi Kang, M.D., is the medical director for Child and Youth Mental Health for Vancouver and a clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Kang has helped hundreds of children, adolescents, and parents move toward positive behaviors and better mental health. 

Website: drshimikang.com/ 

My Thoughts

This was a very insightful book. I really enjoyed the layout and how easy it was to read this. It didn't feel like a task, but instead, it brought me into the story and the ideas of parenting. My children are older (almost 9 years and 11 years). There were tips in this book that applied to both young children as well as older.

I really liked the book because building confidence in our kids and raising them to take care of themselves is important. I like how the author gives tips on how to back off as a parent at time, even if we feel like controlling or doing something. It's very important to let a child learn how to do things and figure them out for themselves, but we can still give them guidance.

The author wrote things out in a relate-able manner that you can walk away from reading at any time and be able to apply in your life with your kids. After reading this book, I felt like it was one of those books that I needed to give out as a baby shower gift. Awesome book. 

Giveaway
One lucky winner is going to a copy of The Self Motivated Kid by Shimi Kang. To enter, simply fill out the giveaway tools form below. This giveaway will end on November 28th, 2015. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Open to US only. Thanks again to the sponsor for offering this fantastic prize.